Anddenex

This would be my list (no particular hierarchy): 1. Verification from other sources 2. Personal Inspiration (subject to a person's oneness with God) 3. Prophet's 4. Angelic visit from the prophet who wrote the scripture passage you are reading, and he teaches you. Scriptures are like journals, your understanding of them is best understood by your relationship with the individual who wrote it. Without a relationship it becomes harder to determine the actual meaning of a persons words.

Although I understand your point Anatess, I don't believe this is what The Traveler's premise was. For example, one of the many debates I heard on my mission stemming from which Church is true was, and still is, "There are many roads to the same destination. You are a Mormon, this person a baptist, this person.... Different roads to the same destination." One road teaches that baptism is ok, if water is dumped over your head. Others teach baptism must be immersed. Both can not be correct. (yes, I understand you already know this.) Another example would be a person who told me once that, in the temple, he received a sure revelation that he should not vote for Mitt Romney, because Mitt Romney didn't serve in the military. He also said, that Jesus Christ told him to tell everybody not to vote for Mitt Romney. I have had other people tell me, in the temple, they received a sure witness that they should vote for Mitt Romney. Which one is correct? Whose revelation is right, and whose revelation was wrong. Both cannot be right due to the polar opposite witness. This is they way I understood The Traveler's point.

LOL - Don't remind us, so disappointing.

Great question. This question intrigues me because of the debates I read between Christians and atheists or agnostics. Most Christians appear to believe that God is the author of all laws which created the universe. The LDS theology presents a different idea, seeing our own doctrine, and if I should become like my Heavenly Father, I would say - the laws of physics were around before my creation, or conception (I am not speaking however regarding my spirit matter which is eternal, I am speaking regarding my journey in becoming like God) It lends me to believe that laws existed before. Thus, my answer, No. According to the limited understanding I have, I would say "yes". Yes. I don't believe we have even tapped the Lord's understanding regarding the laws which govern the universe. We have learned a lot, but I would believe there is more than just the laws we have gathered as humans. Abundant. Although, I would say, abundant via disciplined societies. I would follow in-line with Dravin's answer.

I second mnn727 thoughts.

I would agree with your first assessment, and then would disagree with your next answer. Death is no more to those who have lived, died, and resurrected. Death, true death, is the separation of both body and spirit. Upon being resurrected, my body and spirit will never be separated again. Thus, in my life, "death [is] no more." In connection to your first question, we get the idea that life is one eternal round. More spirit children will be created, more spirit children will need to earn a body, and then die, and be resurrected. As a result for them, death will be apart of their lives as it is ours. However after their resurrection, death again will be no more. I honestly don't feel any tension from questions which are speculative in nature. They are fun to ponder though. For example, our spirit heirs, will Christ be their Savior, or will there be another? No tension in this question, but interesting to ponder, nonetheless.

Thank you James12 for taking a moment to share some thoughts, much appreciated. I am hoping our new Bishop will allow me to take responsibility for the areas I have been delegated to assist him with. Our Stake Training was going over the areas the Bishop is over and how we as counselors need to assist and make sure the Bishop is spending his time on that which is most important. I believe this is one of the reasons why we hear President Monson teach so many stories regarding a specific action, accompanied with the doctrine. Be ye doers of the word, verses hearers only. In connection to your last statement I am reminded of the four purposes of primary: 1. Help others feel Heavenly Father's love. It is near impossible to help any person feel God's love, if we ourselves do not love them. 2. Teach true doctrine in such a manner that it is understood and not misunderstood. 3. Help them recognize the influence of the spirit in their lives 4. Prepare them to make and keep sacred covenants. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts. This is greatly appreciated.

This is something I hear all to often...

As I understand it, they received witness, as a result of their witness, how can a person deny them baptism? You don't. This is similar to the promise given in the Book of Mormon that explains to people, after you read the Book of Mormon, to pray, and after they pray, the truth will be witnessed by the Holy Ghost. This does not mean they "recieve the Holy Ghost", it means that they received a witness from the Holy Ghost, but the Holy Ghost is not a constant companion. Remember, there is a difference between receiving a "witness" from the Holy Ghost, and receiving the "gift of the Holy Ghost" as a constant companion, which is received by laying on of hands.

I would suggest it really depends on the mission. My mission, we always had dinner with single mothers, even if there was no other priesthood holder there. Sometimes, a single sister would bring over a male counter-part, not a priesthood holder, and teach discussions. Other times, we would come in, have a prayer, eat, share a message, and then leave. The real question, are you uncomfortable with it? If you are uncomfortable with it, don't have them over so often. Edit: Also, my mission covered University of Texas, and our Zone Leaders would knock on single sisters/women's doors all day. They asked the Mission President, "Do we just ignore the single women and only speak with the males?" At this time there were no sister missionaries there, due to specific reasons that had happened. The Mission President, "Discern the atmosphere, if you feel safe/fine, go in and teach them. If you feel they are sincerely interested, then let the Sister Missionaries know and hand them over on your next visit."

Ha, I know of a father in a similar situation. He was being picked on, and the father agreed with the mother, who said, next time he bullies you, hit him and hit him hard. The next day the kid picked on him and he socked him, gave him a bloody nose. They called the father in as a result of the zero tolerance and told him what had happened. When the father heard what happened, he said, something to this nature, don't remember exact quote, "If you suspend my son for three days, I will take a vacation and for three days we will spend at Magic Mountain [or Disneyland]." The principle was ticked, however the son wasn't suspended.

As long as they don't touch my vanilla frosted Zingers, I will be fine.

This I have found to be 100% true. Growing up my father taught us two things: 1. If you are being picked on, and you defend yourself, make sure you finish it. 2. If you are bullying someone else, when you get home, I will finish it when you get home. My father was picked on consistently in his younger years, and would have been picked on more, if it weren't for a friend who was 6'4", and a big guy. My dad describes him as a young man who would pick up bails of hay with one hand and throw it into the back of the truck.

Wow... reminds me of a Branch in Texas which was disbanded for a number of reasons. Thanks goodness for the Church Handbook. :)

My oldest son, unfortunately has my height genes, last school year was consistently picked on by a bigger kid. When they played football, the boy would watch to see if anyone was looking, and when my son was not looking would run over and lay my son out. At one time, he injured my sons back, and we were worried there was permanent damage. Fortunately, it wasn't serious, just bruised. The conversation we have had with him, he does it again, let the teachers know. If he does it again, and the teachers do nothing about it, then when he isn't looking, let him have it. Unfortunately, the only way to appropriately deal with these types of bullies, is to stand up for yourself, and hit them back, when teachers do not act right away and discipline a bully.

Hehe, I think we will let the members think they are being released, let it hang until they begin to actually enjoy their calling, then release them.

Purchased, thank you.

Some insights according to my mission experience. 1. You can never hear to much the words "study your scriptures", why, read D&C 11: 21 and continue to remind yourself, how can my tongue be loosed? 2. Remember faith, hope and charity lead all humankind to do good works. Remember, that if we have not charity, we are nothing. 3. Remember, that it is not you that converts any person, it is the spirit of the Lord which converts the penitent heart. Learn to understand this gift of revelation which you have had access to since you were eight (assuming you are not a convert). 4. Remember to love your companion, and help him to serve a worth mission also. When I was a greenie, I was placed with a companion who was going home shortly. It was very difficult. After we were companions, I knelt in prayer asking the Lord why I was placed with him, and letting the Lord know my frustrations in serving with a person who didn't love me enough to help me serve. In answer to my prayer the Lord chastened me by saying, "Andrew, it is not that he did not love you, it is that you did not love him." I did not know how much this impacted me until my last area as a district leader. A young missionary was in my same position, and I knew it. I prayed and prayed to know how I might help resolve the issue. The answer came and at District Meeting I shared the inspired words the Lord provided me. The next night, the younger Elder shared with me, how his companion had a full 360 and they were no longer struggling. Remember, to have charity, for without charity we are nothing. 5. Ram shared this with you, and it is good advice: I remember Elder Bednar's talk speaking to potential missionaries by becoming a missionary now. Great talk, read it. Best wishes on your mission.

Laker fan through and through.

When I served as EQP in this ward, the first item of business on my plate was to read every training session which was published. I still have these, and will be reading through them again. Thank you for the reminder. I also think these trainings are very uplifting.

As I have been thinking about this comment more I am reminded of the life and experiences of prophets. I am reminded of Sister Hinckley's response when asked how has it been married to a prophet. Her response, probably paraphrased, "He wasn't a prophet when I married him." We would have no prophets today, without personal prayer. Lehi, as a direct result of personal prayer, became a prophet. Nephi as a direct result of kneeling before our Lord and asking to know what his father saw personally, was given this experience, and other experiences which lead him to become a prophet. We would not have a prophet, without personal revelation, and we would not have personal revelation without personal prayer. However, I am preaching to the choir, and I am not speaking some great mystery.

SelenaB, if you weren't a woman of character, and honest of heart, you would not be having such feelings. For this I applaud, and a action worthy of praise. You have recognized your covenant, and you desire to keep it. I believe the majority of the people on here understand your desire and concern of not being a liar. You made a promise. You want to keep it. It is a admirable trait.

Thank you for this information and counsel. I definitely agree with the importance of using the technology we now have access to. It is wonderful, and the church is utilizing it to benefit the members. It is great. Your second thought reminds me the counsel provided by Elder Bednar in his book, "Increase in Learning", which is a great book with very good instruction. I definitely agree about gratitude. It is never easy to serve under someone who is ungrateful for what you do. Guidance, not control. Thank you for your thoughts.

Fortunately we have a good ward Wing... The Stake President at the end of his speaking shared that we have a young counselor, with 5 children, whose wife will need some assistance at times while her husband serves on the stand. After sacrament about 4 members came up to Kristi and said, "We can help, sit by us." :)

Thank you Earl... I really appreciate this advice. I had never known that this might be a possibility. I will be speaking with Kristi about this and gather her thoughts. My only concern, we have one young boy, our youngest boy, who is full of life, and will be a class clown. Oh boy, I can see it now, him screaming while I am making the walk of shame from the stand to the doors. Hehe. I appreciate your first thought also. It is important to love every one and remember to be able to work with more than one personality, and that it is not the members responsibility to make sure they match mine. We are all unique and for a good reason. Thanks.